HOOKSETT, NH — Going into junior hockey, Alex Gerard was confident the New Hampshire Avalanche were the right choice.
Three seasons later, his decision proved right. In goal, Gerard was backstopping his team to a Frozen Finals run, all while committed to play NCAA hockey at Fitchburg State University for the Fall of 2025.
“I chose the Avs because of their track record of consistency and success, and Coach Cerrella places pretty much an entire team of kids into college hockey every year,” Gerard explained. “When I signed, he walked me through the process. I knew I’d get a lot of playing time and develop. I was fully bought in and committed to playing NCAA.”
The native of Waterford, NY, played in 25 regular season games in his rookie season in the EHLP. Winning fifteen of those games, Gerard boasted a .916 save percentage, and added three shutouts to his résumé.
“We had a great team, a great group of guys, and a ton of ice time,” Gerard recalled. “As you get older, the game gets faster, and everything is harder from the shooting to the passing. So, it was really just adjusting to the speed of junior hockey.”
However, it was in the postseason where Gerard found another level, leading his team to the Frozen Finals. Two playoff shutouts and a .942 save percentage later, Gerard cemented himself as ready for the jump to the EHL.
With the goal of simplifying his game, Gerard prioritized becoming a “more structurally sound goalie.” He worked on strengthening his lower body and core, and focused on positioning as his first season at the EHL level loomed.
Gerard played in five EHL games and three Premier games in his sophomore season. Despite not receiving the minutes of his rookie year, he trusted the process.
“Being a non age-out and having two 03’ goalies, I knew I wouldn’t get a ton of games. I just put my head down, worked hard, and trusted the process. With Coach Cerrella, I knew he had a plan that would work out for me in the end and it did.”
On the ice, Gerard noted the jump in speed once again, now at the EHL level.
“From a goaltending perspective, it’s so important to be able to read the play. For me, that’s more important than however fast my reflexes were.”
Expecting a bigger role in his age-out year, Gerard honed in on expanding his knowledge of the game to help him better anticipate plays, along with the on-ice work. Enjoying 23 regular season games, and earning the starting job in the postseason, it’s safe to say the work paid off.
Amidst a lingering lower body injury that ended up requiring offseason surgery, Gerard paved the way for a Frozen Finals run for the Avalanche. His .935 save percentage and 1.85 goals against were within the top ten in each category. Once again though, he shined brightest in the playoffs, rocking a .948 save percentage and five wins.
“It’s huge when your coaching staff and teammates have that trust in you,” Gerard said. “Mentally, it makes you feel more calm and luckily, that’s what I said. In the playoffs, they handed me the reins and gave me a chance. I just tried to give the boys every opportunity to win.
Although the Avalanche came up short of their championship goals, Gerard relished each opportunity to play meaningful games, reaching the Frozen Finals in all of his three seasons.
As Gerard rehabilitates for his freshman season at the college level, he credits his teammates and coaches for his climb up the EHL’s Ladder of Development.
“You can’t do it yourself. There will be none of the personal success without everyone else. Buy in and help the team win. The rest will come.”
